FS-4000 - Atlantic Technology

Front Stage Loudspeaker
Instruction Manual
System FS-4000
2
Table of Contents
System FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Table of Contents
2 Unpacking the Speaker
2 Attaching the Grille
3 Description
3
3
Model FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Acoustic Controls
4
Speaker Placement and Home Theater
Assembling the Speakers
4 Placement
5
6 System Setup
8
Using the Rear Panel Controls
System Setup when using a Subwoofer
System Setup Without a Subwoofer
Speaker Placement — Optional Surround and Subwoofer
Using Surround Speakers with the FS-4000
Setting Levels
9
System Wiring
6
6
6
7
8
8 Connecting Your System
10 Care of Your Speakers
11 Specifications
System FS-4000
Front Stage Loudspeaker
Thank you for choosing Atlantic Technology products. Your new speaker
components are precision-crafted to give you years of enjoyable, troublefree service. This manual covers the Atlantic Technology System FS-4000
speaker components. It will show you how to incorporate these components
into your present setup, as well as how to assemble a complete system from
them. These systems can be used with all current and past sound formats
including Stereo, Dolby Surround®, Pro Logic®, Dolby Digital 5.1®, Dolby
Digital EX®, DTS®, DTS ES®, DTS ES Discrete®, DTS Neo:6®, DVD-Audio
and SACD Audio.
IMPORTANT: Although it may seem like asking for driving directions,
please take a few moments to read all of this booklet. It has many
helpful tips and ideas on properly setting up and using your system.
We promise that if you take the time to read and follow these tips
you’ll get better system performance and more enjoyment.
Unpacking the Speaker
Use care when unpacking the speakers. Remember to keep the original
boxes and packing material, in the unlikely event the speakers need servicing, or if you move.
Attaching the Grille
The included metal grilles are held to the front of the enclosures with powerful neodymium magnets. There are depressions on the back of the grille that
the magnets fit into. Once the speakers are in their final position. Position the
grille over the magnets on the baffle. Move them together slowly and when
you get close enough, the magnets will draw the grille in and hold it tight. Be
careful not to get your fingers caught between the grille and the cabinet.
For Future Reference
Record the serial number and date of purchase of the speaker here. The serial number is
found on the speaker terminal panel on the back of the enclosure.
Serial Number
Date of Purchase
The contents of this manual are Copyright © 2005 by Atlantic Technology International,
Corp., and may not be duplicated or reproduced by any means, whether physical, electronic
or otherwise without prior written consent from Atlantic Technology International, Corp.
Atlantic Technology and the Atlantic Technology logo are registered trademarks of Atlantic
Technology International, Corp.
Specifications are those in effect at the time of printing.Atlantic Technology International,
Corp. reserves the right to change specifications or designs at any time without notice
without obligation to modify existing units.
Individual Component Descriptions
3
Instruction Manual
Description
Model FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Acoustic Controls
The Model FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker is an integrated high-performance loudspeaker containing all three front channel speakers (LCR) in
a single elegant, slim enclosure. The speaker can be either wall-mounted
above or below the video display, or it can be placed on a shelf or on the
television itself with the included rocker base.
System FS-4000 includes unique acoustic controls to help maximize its
performance in your room. These controls are explained in greater detail
on page 6.
The unit is intended for use with the latest generation of flat screen video
displays. The advanced design of this speaker delivers detailed, articulate
sound for a dramatic viewing experience. Each of the three separate internal chambers contain one GLH (Graphite Loaded Homopolymer) 4 ½-inch
(115mm) woofer, one GLH 4 ½-inch Pressure Driver and an advanced 1”
(25mm) ferrofluid-cooled, damped soft dome tweeter with a powerful
neodymium magnet structure. The drivers are mounted in an acoustically
inert, heavily braced MDF enclosure and are magnetically shielded so they
may be placed close to any type of video monitor without concern of video
interference. Note also that the tweeters are mounted above the centerline
of the woofers. This arrangement results in a smoother in-room frequency
response, for greater clarity and detail.
For accurate reproduction of a multi-channel soundtrack, the three frontchannel speakers must have the same essential tonal balance. Since the
FS-4000 is comprised of three identical speakers mounted in a common
enclosure, it delivers an exceptionally smooth and coherent sonic signature
across the front soundstage.
Figure 1
FS-4000
4
Placement
System FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Placement
Figure 2
Speaker Placement
Speaker Placement and Home Theater
Remember that the primary goal of a good home theater is not to make you
believe that you are in a movie theater. It’s to make you believe you’re in the
movie. For a home theater system, place the FS-4000 speaker either above
or below your flat screen display, centered horizontally. See Figure 2.
The speaker comes with your choice of two wall-mount brackets, a Straight
Bracket that points the speaker straight ahead, and an Angle Bracket that
either points the speaker down at the listeners (if it’s mounted above
the display) or up at the listeners (if it’s mounted below the display). See
Figure 6.
In addition, the FS-4000 can also be used as a set-top or shelf-mounted
speaker. Should you choose to use it that way, we’ve included Atlantic’s
exclusive Rocker Base. This base attaches easily to the bottom of the speaker
so that it may be tilted up or down towards the listening area as needed.
Alternately, the speaker can be placed directly on a shelf or on the television without the rocker base, if desired. Four self-adhesive rubber feet are
included to prevent vibration and protect the mounting surface.
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See Figure 9 to attach the Rocker Base
You may also simply mount the speaker to the wall using the built-in keyhole brackets.
Because of the high quality components used, the FS-4000 speaker is very
heavy for its size and care must be used when hanging it. Be sure to use a
strong screw to drive into the wall, one whose head and shaft will fit within
properly the keyhole opening and slot. Also be sure to drive the screw
directly into a stud or to use a mounting device (such a molly-bolt) that is
capable of safely holding the speaker’s weight. Never simply drive a nail or
screw into sheet rock or other wall materials, as this mounting method may
not be sufficient to safely support the weight of the speaker.
NOTE: Always consult a knowledgeable installer regarding the proper
mounting hardware to use with your speakers.
See Figures 3-9 for mounting instructions
Figure 3
Stud Bracket Removal
For shipping purposes the
stud bracket is mounted to
the speaker. Remove the
stud bracket by removing
the screws before attempting any installation.
Reserve the screws for
attaching Straight/Angle
Brackets in Figure 6.
Figure 4
Stud Bracket
ST
Assembling the Speakers
STUD
Figure 5
Stud Bracket installation
Screw stud bracket
through drywall into stud
through aligning holes on
bracket as shown.
STUD
Assembling the Speaker
STUD
ST
Instruction Manual
Install so prong points out and DOWN. Hang speaker on the
prong by inserting prong through the keyholes directly on
rear of speaker or on the Straight/Angle Brackets.
Close
up view
Side
view
Figure 6
Straight/Angle
Bracket installation
Mount the brackets to the
speaker with the included
short machine screws
Double Keyhole for
flush mounting
Figure 8
Angle Bracket
Figure 7
Straight Bracket
Make sure the closed side
of the brackets are facing
the ends of the speaker
Figure 9
Rocker installation
Mount the rocker to the
bottom of the speaker
with the included short
machine screws
5
6
System Setup
System FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
System Setup
System Setup When Using a Subwoofer
Figure 10
Some older surround sound decoders and receivers offer a choice of “Normal” or “Wide-band” modes for the center channel speaker. The FS-4000
speaker is designed to be used in the Normal mode.
Modern digital processing multi-channel systems provide a Bass Management menu, which typically requires you to select between “Small” or
“Large” speakers during system set-up. When using this speaker with a
dedicated subwoofer, please set all the speakers on the receiver’s set-up
menu to Small.
Many of the newer surround receivers and processors give you a choice
of subwoofer-to-satellite crossover frequency. If yours does, we recommend that you start with a setting of around 80Hz for the smoothest blend
between the subwoofer and the FS-4000.
Using the Rear Panel Controls
HF Energy This control changes the tilt or rolloff
slope of the tweeter in order to compensate for
varying room acoustics. Use the Average position
for rooms with a reasonably balanced combination of hard reflective surfaces (sliding glass doors
and bare walls) and soft absorptive surfaces (thick
carpeted floors and overstuffed furniture). The
Reverberant position is meant for rooms with an abundance of hard surfaces, while the Damped Room setting raises the tweeter’s output to counteract the effect of an overly absorptive, acoustically “dead” room.
Boundary Compensation Putting this switch to
the “On” position adjusts the lower frequency output to compensate for the typical sound colorations
caused by placing the speaker very close to a large
surface, such as a TV screen, a wall, or on a shelf in an
enclosed entertainment unit. If your FS-4000 speaker
is mounted as described above, you may prefer its
sound when the Boundary Compensation controls are engaged. Conversely,
if it is free-standing, away from large surfaces (such as when the speaker
is placed on a stand shelf, away from other large surfaces), you may prefer
the sound with the position in the “Normal” position.
In all cases, we recommend you try both switches in their various positions
and use the settings that sound best in your particular room. Note that the
settings of the Left, Center, and Right speakers may differ from each other.
System Setup Without a Subwoofer
For some listeners, a full home theater setup with a separate subwoofer and
rear surround speakers may not be feasible or desired. In that case, the FS4000 will provide high quality sound all by itself—far better than the small
speakers built into most televisions. In those situations, we recommend you
set your surround sound receiver’s set-up menu to “Subwoofer—No,” and
“Surround Speakers—Off.” Set this way, most receivers will blend some
of the rear channel surround information into the front channels, giving a
more spacious sound.
ADVANCED USER SETUP: For even better results, if your surround
receiver has an adjustable subwoofer crossover frequency, select
“Subwoofer—Yes” (even though you are not using a subwoofer) and
adjust the subwoofer lowpass control to 60Hz. That way, all the bass
from 60Hz and above will be sent to the FS-4000, which will result in
a full-bodied, credibly full-range sound to be reproduced by the FS4000, while at the same time, preventing the very low bass signals
(below 60Hz) from overdriving the receiver’s amplifier section at high
output levels.
System Setup
Instruction Manual
Speaker Placement — Optional Surround and Subwoofer
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7
8
System Setup
System FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Using Surround Speakers with the FS-4000
Connecting Your System
If you are setting up a full home theater
system, any of our surround speakers,
boxed or in-wall, will work very well
with the FS-4000. All Atlantic Technology speakers are “voiced” to the same standards of tonal neutrality and
sonic accuracy. Our model 2200SR Bipole/Dipole surround speakers, for
example, would be an excellent match for an FS-4000-based home theater
system. Begin with the side speakers set to “Dipole,” then experiment with
the Bipole/Dipole switch to obtain the most pleasing and realistic effect in
your listening room.
We recommend that you connect your system using high quality dual
conductor stranded wire of 16 gauge or heavier, for lengths up to 25 feet
(8m) . Remember, the lower the gauge number, the heavier the wire. Use
heavier gauge wire for longer runs. Please contact your audio/video dealer
or installer for specific cable recommendations and further information
regarding special circumstances. The terminals themselves are designed to
allow the use of very heavy speaker wire or connectors. Be sure to tighten
them securely, but don’t over-tighten them.
See your Atlantic dealer or visit our website (www.atlantictechnology.com)
for more information.
The best location for surround speakers is straight out to the sides, or
slightly behind the primary listening area, approximately 1-2 feet (.3-.6m)
above seated ear level, but no closer than 2 feet (.6m) from the ceiling (see
previous page). The surround speakers are primarily intended to re-create
the ambient sounds taking place in the movie scene. Therefore, throughout
most of a movie or TV program you may not be consciously aware of output
from these speakers. In other words, don’t worry if you aren’t hearing the
surround speakers. Please try to avoid the trap of turning the surrounds up
and up so that you hear them most of the time. The result will be a much
less believable surround experience.
Setting Levels
When setting up a complete home theater we strongly recommend that you
use a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter. As of this writing Radio Shack®
has one that’s affordably priced (approximately $40-$60) that can be used
effectively. To use this meter, turn on your system, put the processor/receiver
in Test Mode and set its main volume control somewhere between -20
dB and 0dB (or a reasonably loud level in your listening room). Sit in the
prime listening position, set the SPL meter to the 70dB scale, slow response,
and C weighting. Hold the meter with the microphone pointed up towards
the ceiling and in front of you. Cycle the test tone from speaker to speaker,
setting each to the same level (usually75dB) using the individual level settings available in the processor/receiver (please see the instructions for
your processor/receiver if you are unsure of how to access the test signal
or level controls).
IMPORTANT NOTE: The power recommendation for these speaker
systems assumes that you will not operate your amplifier/receiver in
a way that produces distortion. Even rugged speakers like these can
be damaged by an amplifier driven into audible distortion. The harsh
amplifier distortion (“clipping”) that occurs in this situation will eventually cause damage to the speaker system. This type of damage may
be cumulative and can build up over time, as the amplifier is driven
into overload again and again. Such damage is easily identifiable
through examination of the damaged speaker’s voice coil and is not
covered by the warranty.
These systems will play very loudly when provided with enough undistorted
power to do so. If necessary, consult your dealer or Atlantic Technology for
additional information.
WARNING: To prevent risk of electrical shock or damage to your
equipment, always switch off the amplifier or receiver when making
any system connections.
You can connect your speakers by using a variety of audio connectors such
as banana plugs, pin connectors, spade lugs, etc., or you can:
1. Remove ½” (13mm) of insulation from each wire end.
2. Twist the stranded wire together, keeping the two ends
separate.
3. Place the appropriate wire through the postholes in the
connectors. These holes are revealed when you loosen the
connector’s capscrew.
4. Tighten down the capscrew tightly, but be careful not to
over tighten it.
5. Check the tightness of the capscrews 24 hours after hookup
and occasionally after that, as they can loosen over time.
We recommend that you check your local electrical codes to make sure
that you are not using improper connectors. It’s important to observe
polarity while making speaker connections: red (+) terminals on the
amplifier to red (+) on the speaker, black (–) on the amplifier to black (–)
on the speaker. Look carefully at the wires you are using and note that one
of the conductors of each pair will typically be identified by color, printing
on the outer jacket, ridges on the outer jacket, or a thread intertwined with
the wire strands. By convention, the marked wire is connected to the red
(+) terminal. Whether you are connecting a complete system, or adding a
single speaker component to your present system, the wiring should look
like the system wiring diagrams on the opposite page
WARNING: Before turning on the amplifier, be certain that no stray
wire strands are touching across any terminals as this might damage
your amplifier.
Finally, check the polarity of your front speakers by listening to some stereo music with good bass content. If the sound seems “hollow”, unusually spread out, or seem to have weak bass, recheck your connections for
proper polarity and correct any out of phase connections by reversing the
connections to one speaker only, if necessary.
System Wiring
Instruction Manual
System Wiring
Be sure to connect red (+) on the speaker to
red (+) on the amplifier and black (–) on the
speaker to black (–) on the amplifier.
LEFT
RIGHT
SURROUND SURROUND
LEFT
CENTER
RIGHT
9
10
Care of YOur Speakers
System FS-4000 Front Stage Loudspeaker
Care of Your Speakers
Clean your cabinets using a soft, lint-free cloth. If you wish, you can slightly
moisten the cloth with plain water. Do not use any other cleaning agents
or chemicals. Be careful not to get any water on the driver cones or tweeter
domes. After carefully removing the grilles from the speakers by pulling
them forward, gently clean them with a quick pass from a vacuum cleaner
with a brush attachment. This should remove any dust accumulation. Reattach them by lining up the magnet depressions in the back of the grilles with
the magnets on the speaker baffle and slowly moving them closer until they
connect with each other.
Avoid placing your speakers in direct sunlight or near a source of heat that
may, over time, damage the finish.
IMPORTANT: SAVE YOUR BOXES! If you can do so, save the cartons, packing pieces, and plastic bags that came with your speakers.
They will be useful in case you move or have to ship your loudspeakers for any reason. In any case, save all packing materials until you
are certain that the systems have suffered no damage in shipment. If
you find such damage, either visible or internal, contact your dealer
immediately.
Specifications
Instruction Manual
Specifications
Model
FS-4000
Type
2-way with Bass Pressure Drivers
Drivers
Woofer
Pressure Drivers
Tweeter
(3) 4 ½” (115mm) GLH§
(3) 4 ½” (115mm) GLH§
(3) 1" (25mm) soft dome
Frequency Response
75Hz – 20kHz ±3dB
Nominal Impedance
8 Ohms
Crossover Frequency
3.75kHz, 3rd order
Sensitivity
89dB
Recommended
Amplifier Power
10 – 125 Watts RMS
Magnetic Shielding
Yes
Dimensions w/ grilles
(W x H x D)*
39¾ x 6 9⁄16 x 5½"
1010 x 167 x 138mm
Weight (ea)
27lbs; 12.3kg
Graphite Loaded Homopolymer
§
*Height without base. Add 1.125" (28mm) height for base.
Specifications are those in effect at the time of printing. Atlantic Technology reserves the right to change
specifications or appearance at any time without notice.
Dolby Digital, 5.1, Dolby Stereo and Dolby Pro Logic are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. DTS is a registered trademark of DTS Technology.
11
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015-1400